Matrix

The Matrix is one of the most popular and versatile genes out there. This morph is beautiful on its own but excels when combined with other mutations. 
This incomplete dominant mutation can take your projects in some crazy directions. It can reduce and clean down the pattern or “shatter” it, making it look busier. 
The matrix gene's Homozygous (Super) form creates a beautiful snake called the “Ivory.” With a dark dorsal stripe, minimal side pattern, ivory/white color, and beautiful gray/blueish eyes.  
Some of the most recognizable traits of the matrix genes are:
  • A distinctive pink or very light-colored tongue. In some cases, the presence of other morphs may alter this appearance, adding some dark pigment to the tongue. Also, different genetic mutations like both lines of Albino (T+ and T-.) as well as the Pied blood python present PINK tongues. So, the pink tongue is not exclusive of the Matrix gene.
  • A broader/thicker diagonal post-ocular pale stripe often creates a total gap between the eye orbit and the posterior dark lateral (parietal) mark.
  • A pixelated pattern. One way to look at it is that in Matrix, "the pattern follows the scales while in non-matrix animals or, the pattern ignores the scales." This means that if you look closely, you will see that in matrix animals, each scale will be (for the most part) a solid color, creating a defined pixelated pattern. While in normals or other morphs, the pattern is more continuous as one scale could contain two or more shades, disregarding the scalation. (See pictures below) 
  • The belly pattern is reduced. The darker big spots commonly seen in Normal Bloods appear fragmented in tiny dots in Matrix animals, leaving the ventral scales with little pattern.  
Now, like I like saying... in biology, one plus one does not always equal two. Biology isn't an exact science,  and these characteristics may or may not be present in all Matrix. The more you look at matrix animals, the easier it will be for you to tell them apart from other genes.
See the pictures below, comparing Matrix to other non-Matrix animals. You can also check out cold-blooded earth’s post about the matrix gene. Nick did a great job there and also showed some awesome matrix combos. 
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                                     Matrix pattern
                            Normal/wild-type pattern
 Matrix displaying a wider/thicker diagonal post-ocular pale stripe.
Normal/Wild Type showing average diagonal post ocular pale stripe.
Matrix showing the classic pink tongue.
Typical tongue color on a Goldeneye blood python. Notice the predominant, darker color compared to the matrix tongue.   
Pink tongue on a t-negative albino blood python. This animal is NOT a Matrix, but the lack of black pigment gives the morph a pink tongue.  
Pied Blood Python displaying a pink tongue despite NOT being a Matrix animal. This beauty belongs to Cold-Blooded Earth. 
Although tricky to catch at first, on albino animals, the matrix animals show a lighter/pale pink tone on the tongue. Look how light this T+ albino Ivory tongue is compared to the T+ Albino GE (Non-Matrix).
T+ Albino Goldeneye tongue. Notice the darker pink tone. (Still pink, but not pale).  
        Matrix showing reduced and organized belly pattern
                                   Wild type/typical  belly pattern.
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Goldeneye